NielsenIQ names Purina as first customer of its ConnectAI charter program
NielsenIQ says it will embed engineers and data scientists inside Purina's own technology environment to run AI agents built on the measurement firm's consumer data.
NielsenIQ has selected Purina as the first customer of its ConnectAI charter program, according to an announcement from the company reported Aug. 7, 2026 and datelined Chicago.
The program launches with five global companies across personal care, pet care, beauty and beverages, NielsenIQ said. Under the ConnectAI model, the firm brings its proprietary data, models, product content, analytic structures and business context into a customer’s own AI environment, where they are combined with the customer’s data and systems to drive AI agents and workflows that support repeated decisions.
Every charter agreement includes a dedicated on-site team of embedded engineers and data scientists, the company said, with agents and decision workflows built around the customer’s systems, priorities and performance metrics. In Purina’s case, NielsenIQ said its engineers and data scientists will collaborate inside Purina’s technology environment. Use cases cited by the company include demand forecasting, competitive intelligence, distribution and shelf assortment decisions, detection of consumer and category trends, and growth planning.
NielsenIQ described ConnectAI as an early product under its “intelligence that powers AI” strategic pillar, complementary to its purpose-built AI applications and its commerce intelligence strategy. The company said its measurement footprint spans more than 90 countries, covering roughly 82% of the world’s population and reflecting more than $7.4 trillion in consumer spending.
The offering is currently being developed through the initial group of charter agreements, with demand rising across FMCG, technology and durables, according to the release. NielsenIQ said further customer announcements and case studies are planned, and that the next phase will add charter customers including retailers.
Comments from Brian Donovan, who leads strategy and insights at Purina, NielsenIQ chairman and chief executive Jim Peck, and chief AI commercial officer Irina Stoian were included in the announcement. NielsenIQ trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker NIQ.